“Kim Soo Hyun Hit with Advertiser Lawsuits Following Relationship Controversy, Damages May Exceed $9 Million”
Actor Kim Soo Hyun and his agency Gold Medalist are facing multiple lawsuits from former advertising partners seeking refunds and compensation in the wake of his highly publicized relationship controversy.
According to legal sources on April 29, at least two companies that had advertising contracts with Kim have filed lawsuits at the Seoul Central District Court and Seoul Eastern District Court, demanding either refunds of modeling fees or compensation for damages resulting from terminated contracts.
Attorney Park Sung-woo, who represents the companies, revealed that additional firms are either preparing or have already initiated similar legal actions against the actor and his agency. The lawsuits reportedly seek either termination of advertising contracts with partial or full refunds of modeling fees, or compensation for damages due to the inability to continue with planned campaigns.
The litigation amounts vary by company depending on the scheduled advertising periods and target regions, ranging from approximately $2.9 million to $9.5 million, according to sources familiar with the cases.
The legal troubles stem from controversy that erupted last month when YouTube channel “Garosero Research Institute” claimed, citing conversations with the family of the late actress Kim Sae Ron, that Kim Soo Hyun had dated Kim Sae Ron for six years beginning when she was 15 years old in 2015.
While Kim Soo Hyun’s side has acknowledged the past relationship, they maintain it only began after Kim Sae Ron became an adult. The actor has initiated legal action against both the YouTube channel operator and Kim Sae Ron’s family.
Following the controversy, numerous brands including bakery chain Tous Les Jours, retail giant Homeplus, and outdoor brand Eider terminated or distanced themselves from advertising partnerships with the actor, removing his image from promotional materials across physical and digital platforms.
The actor held a tearful press conference on March 31 to address the controversy, but this appears to have been insufficient to prevent the deterioration of his commercial relationships and subsequent legal actions.
Keywords: Kim Soo Hyun advertiser lawsuit, Korean celebrity endorsement damages, relationship controversy #KimSooHyun #KoreanEntertainment #CelebrityEndorsement
